JPH0659850B2 - Low floor small vehicle - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a low-floor small vehicle suitable for use by persons with disabilities who use wheelchairs, elderly people with weak legs, and the like.

(Background of the Invention) People with disabilities who use wheelchairs and elderly people who have weak legs and those who need assistance from others want to actively participate in the field and participate in the field as much as possible, just like healthy people. If such people can act independently and freely, such hopes will be satisfied.

Therefore, there is a need for a motorized vehicle suitable for these people to move by themselves without the help of others. In this case, it is particularly required that these people can get on and off easily by themselves, and that the vehicle body is highly stable and easy to drive. It is also desirable if these people can remember the pleasure of actively acting with a sense of liberty, because they can become mentally brighter and more positive.

(Object of the invention) The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, disabled people using a wheelchair and elderly people with weak legs can easily get on and off by themselves, high stability, easy driving, It is a first object of the present invention to provide a low-floor small-sized vehicle that can be enjoyed with a feeling of liberation and can enjoy a refreshing feeling of spirit.

Further, in addition to the first object, the present invention provides a low-floor small-sized vehicle capable of generating a large uphill force by applying a sufficient load to the drive wheels when a wheelchair or an elderly person rides. To aim.

Further, in addition to the first object, a third object of the present invention is to provide a low-floor small-sized vehicle suitable for use by an elderly person who does not need a wheelchair.

(Structure of the Invention) According to the present invention, the first object is to stand up in a substantially box shape in which the front and left and right sides of a substantially flat plate-like floor surface are substantially continuously surrounded and the cross section is opened downward. A body having a wall and left and right standing walls, a handle shaft that rises upward from the front standing wall, a steering front wheel and a driving prime mover housed in the front standing wall, and left and right houses in the left and right standing walls. The present invention is achieved by a low-floor small-sized vehicle including a pair of rear wheels, and being able to get on and off from a rear portion of the floor surface opened rearward.

A second object of the present invention is that, in the first invention, a pair of left and right drive shafts that are laterally installed in the front standing wall and driven by a prime mover via a differential device, and the left and right standing walls in the front-rear direction. This is achieved by a low-floor small-sized vehicle to which a rear wheel transmission device for transmitting the rotation of each drive shaft to each rear wheel is added.

Further, the third object is achieved in the first invention by a low-floor small vehicle having a rotating seat attached to the floor surface.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a usage state of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the vehicle, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show a vehicle structure. FIG. 6 is a plan view and a side view, FIG. 6 is a pneumatic system diagram, FIG. 7 is a power system diagram, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a wheelchair loading / unloading operation, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the riding state thereof.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 10 is a vehicle body frame,
It is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The vehicle body frame 10 includes a lower tube 12, an upwardly convex front tube 14 fixed to a front portion of the lower tube 12, and a rear end extending rearward from a rear portion of the front tube 14 so that a rear end thereof is a lower tube 12.
Left frame 18 consisting of side tube 16 fixed to
a and the right frame 18b to the appropriate cross member 2
It is made by sticking together at 0, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a body integrally formed of synthetic resin, which is formed in a substantially box-like shape with a substantially flat plate-like floor surface 36 and a front surface and left and right side surfaces of the floor surface 36 which are continuously enclosed. It has a front standing wall 38 and left and right standing walls 40, 40.
The front tube 14 and the cross members 20, 22, 2
4, 26 are located in the front standing wall 38. This standing wall 3
The upper surface of 8 can be opened and closed by a lid plate 38a. The latter half of the lower tubes 12 and 12 and the side tubes 16 and 16 are located in the left and right standing walls 40 and 40, respectively. Floor 3
The rear part of 6 is open rearward between the left and right standing walls 40, 40. Headlights a and direction indicators b, b are attached to the front standing wall 38.
Further, tail lights c, c are attached to the rear portions of the left and right standing walls 40, 40.

Cross member 2 that connects the left and right front tubes 14, 14
4 and 26, a substantially box-shaped bracket 42 that is long in the front-rear direction.
The steering shaft cylinder 44 penetrates and is fixed to the bracket 42. This steering shaft cylinder 44 has steering front wheels 4
A front fork 48 that supports 6 is held rotatably to the left and right. Reference numeral 50 denotes a handle shaft that rises upward from the front standing wall 38, and is held by the cross members 22 and 26, and brackets 52 and 54 are provided on the handle shaft 50 and the front fork 48 so as to project in the vehicle width direction. (4th
The drawings are connected by a link 56. This handle shaft 5
A handlebar 58 is fixed to the upper end of 0. Therefore, the rotation of the handle bar 58 and the handle shaft 50 is transmitted to the front fork 48 by the link 56, and the front wheels 46 are steered. The handle shaft 50 has a front and rear cover 6
0 is attached, and the handlebar 58 has a handlebar cover 6
Covered by 2. The handle shaft 50 rises from the rear edge of the opening that is opened and closed by the cover plate 38a of the front standing wall 38, and the body 34 can be removed upward from the vehicle body frame 10 by passing the handle bar 58 through this opening. .

Reference numerals 64, 64 denote a pair of left and right rear wheels, which are housed in the left and right upright walls 40, 40 so as to be vertically movable by air pressure. Since the vertical movement mechanism of the rear wheel 64 is bilaterally symmetrical, only one of them will be described.

The cross member 30 passes between the left and right lower tubes 12, 12 and projects laterally between the stay 66, which stands up from both projecting ends, and an upright bracket 68 which connects the lower tube 12 and the side tube 16. In addition, the front ends of the two inverted T-shaped swing arms 70 are vertically movably supported, and the rear wheel 64 is held between the rear ends of both swing arms 70. Reference numeral 72 is an air cylinder, the front end of which is pivotally supported by the side tube 16 and the rear end of which is pivotally supported by the upper end of the swing arm 70.

The air cylinder 72 is expanded and contracted by the air pressure control mechanism shown in FIG. That is, the handle cover 62 is provided with an up switch 74 and a down switch 76,
When the up switch 74 is turned on, the electric motor 78 operates the air pump 80. The air discharged from the pump 80 is sent to the electromagnetic switching valve 84 through the strainer 82. This switching valve 84 supplies the discharge pressure of the pump 80 to the air cylinder 72 when the up switch 74 is turned on, and the cylinder 7
Extend 2. Therefore, the swing arm 70 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 5 and both rear wheels 64 project downward. That is, the rear portion of the vehicle body frame 10 is in a state in which it can run away from the road surface upward.

When the down switch 76 is turned on, the switching valve 84 is switched so that the pressure of the air cylinder 72 is released to the atmosphere. Therefore, the air cylinder 72 contracts due to the weight of the vehicle body,
Both rear wheels 64 move upward. That is, the body frame 1
The rear part of 0 descends. At this time, the rubber block 30a fixed to the lower surface of the cross member 30 contacts the road surface to prevent the vehicle body from moving. In this manner, the wheelchair A can be loaded with the rear portion of the vehicle body lowered (FIG. 8).

In this embodiment, a car stop 86 that rotates with the vertical movement of the vehicle body is attached to the rear portion between the left and right upright walls 40, 40. That is, the bollard 86 is made of a rigid metal plate that is bent in a U-shape, and both ends thereof have left and right side tubes 1.
6 and 16 are rotatably attached. Lever 88, 88 is fixed to both ends, and the pivot ends of both levers 88, 88 and the swing arms 70, 70 are linked 90, 90.
Are connected by. As a result, when the air cylinder 72 is contracted and the rear portion of the vehicle body is lowered, the intermediate portion of the car stop 86 contacts or approaches the floor surface 36, as shown in FIG.

Therefore, when getting on the wheelchair A, the wheel B is overcome by the auxiliary wheel B and stopped there to stop the wheelchair A temporarily, and if the vehicle further deeply gets into the floor 36, the main wheel C will get the wheel stop 86 next. Get over and stop. That is, the floor surface 36 is inclined so that the rear part becomes lower, but by successively locking the auxiliary wheel B and the main wheel C to the car stop 86, the wheelchair A can run backward on the slope surface of the floor surface 36 by itself. It becomes easy and the boarding operation becomes easy.

When the air cylinder 72 is extended and the rear portion of the vehicle body is lifted from the road surface, the car stop 86 rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 9 and contacts the lower rear portion of the main wheel C. If the parking brake E of the wheelchair A is applied in this state, the wheelchair A is not only fixed by the brake E, but also the backward movement can be surely restricted.

Further, since the car stop 86 has a function of synchronizing the vertical movement of the left and right rear wheels 64, the vehicle body does not tilt left and right when the rear wheels 64 are moved up and down by the air cylinder 72.

Returning to FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 92 is a forced air-cooled two-cycle gasoline engine as a driving prime mover, which is arranged on the left side in the front standing wall 38. This engine 9
As shown in FIG. 7, the reference numeral 2 includes a cantilevered crankshaft 94, a magneto generator 96 provided on the crankshaft 94, a centrifugal clutch 98, and the like. Forward / reverse switching mechanism 10
2 is transmitted to the output shaft 104. A differential device 106 is also disposed in the front rising wall 38, and the output shaft 104
Is transmitted to the differential device 106 by the chain 107, and the pair of left and right drive shafts 108 (108a, 1
08b). The drive shaft 108 is provided on the front standing wall 3
The rotation of each of the drive shafts 108a and 108b is laterally provided in the vehicle 8, and is transmitted to each rear wheel 64 by a chain 110 as a rear wheel transmission that passes through the left and right upright walls 40 and 40 in the front-rear direction. In FIGS. 4 and 5, 112 and 112 are chains 110 and 1
10 chain tensioners.

Note that in FIG. 7, the forward / reverse switching mechanism 102 includes the output shaft 1
04, the slider 102a that slides in the axial direction is configured to be selectively engaged with the forward gear 102b or the reverse gear 102c. The slider 102a is moved by, for example, a switching lever 114 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) provided on the handlebar 58.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 116 is a carburetor, 118 is a filter element, and the outside air enters the accommodation chamber of the carburetor 116 from the intake port 120, enters the carburetor 116 through the element 118, and further the crank through the reed valve. Inhaled indoors.

In FIG. 4, 122 is a fuel tank, 124 is an exhaust muffler, and 126 is a battery.

According to this embodiment, when the user is riding in the wheelchair A, the rear portion of the vehicle body is lowered in advance by the down switch 76 provided on the handle cover 62. At this time, the car stop 86 is at the position rotated downward as shown in FIG. 8, so that the wheelchair A gets over the car stop 86 and gets on the floor 36. If the up switch 74 is turned on with the main wheel C of the wheelchair A getting over the car stop 86, the rear part of the vehicle body is raised and the vehicle can travel as shown in FIG. As described above, if the brake E is applied at this time, the movement of the wheelchair A is restricted by the brake E and the car stop 86.

When the starter button 128 is pressed, the engine 92 is started by the electric starter (not shown). The accelerator incorporated in the grip of the handlebar 58 accelerates the engine 92, and if the rotation of the engine 92 rises, the centrifugal clutch 98 is connected, and the rotation is transmitted to the rear wheel 64 to start traveling. Note that the engine has a constant vehicle speed (for example, 1
It is desirable to provide a governor device that regulates the pressure to 6 Kmph) or less.

Since the front standing wall 38 and the left and right standing walls 40, 40 are sufficiently lower than the handlebar 58, a driver seated in the wheelchair A can easily visually recognize the surroundings of the body 34 and can easily drive the vehicle, and the feeling of openness is plentiful. You can drive.
Further, since the standing walls 38 and 40 are low, the weight of the vehicle is low and the stability is good.

Further, since the axles of the rear wheels 64 are independent from each other on the left and right, and the floor surface 36 is located below this axle, the lowering of the floor surface 36 promotes a lower center of gravity.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the front one wheel is a three-wheeled vehicle, and the body 34 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. Therefore, even if the vehicle body is tilted, the bottom surfaces of the left and right bodies 34 of the front wheels 46 immediately contact the road surface. The inclination angle of the vehicle body is limited to a very small value, and the stability is further improved.

Further, as is clear from FIGS. 8 and 9, the left and right standing walls 40 are lower than the axle of the main wheel C of the wheelchair A. Generally, a push ring D fixed to the outside of the main wheel C when the wheelchair A is put in.
If you push (Figs. 1, 8, 9) with your hand, the hand will come near the axle of the main wheel C for a person of ordinary physique (Fig. 8). However, since the left and right upright walls 40 are lower than the axle of the main wheel C, the hand does not hit the upright wall 40 and the operability is good. Therefore, the gap between the standing wall 40 and the main wheel C can be made sufficiently small, and the body width can be narrowed.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the wheelchair A is put in the vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the center of the main wheel C is located near the upper side of the center of the rear wheel 64 in the front-back direction of the floor 36. The length is fixed. Therefore, the ground load of the rear wheel 64 is increased, and a large climbing force can be obtained when climbing a slope. That is, when the front-wheel drive is used, the problem of insufficient front-wheel load and insufficient climbing force tends to occur, but according to the present embodiment, such a problem does not occur.

In particular, in this embodiment, as is apparent from FIG.
The mounting position of the wheelchair A is determined so that the respective grounding points of the main wheel C and the auxiliary wheel B of the wheelchair A are located between two straight lines passing through the grounding point of 6 and the grounding points of the left and right rear wheels 64. ing.
Therefore, the load applied by the wheelchair A is always applied to the body 3 in a direction to stabilize the body posture. Therefore, the vehicle body stability is further improved.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a rear view showing the boarding / alighting operation thereof. In this embodiment, the rotary sheet 130 is fixed to the floor surface 36. As shown in FIG. 4, a bracket 132 is preliminarily fixed near the center of the cross member 30, and the rotary seat 130 is fixed to the bracket 132 with the floor surface 36 interposed therebetween. Further, in this embodiment, the car stop 86 in the previous embodiment is removed.

According to this embodiment, an elderly person with weak legs can easily ride from the rear part of the floor surface 36 opened rearward by lowering the rear part of the vehicle body as necessary, and after sitting rearward on the rotating seat 130. The rotating seat 130 may be rotated 180 ° in the forward direction to lock the seat. 134 is seat 13
It is a lock lever that fixes 0 in at least forward and backward positions.

The left and right upright walls 40, 40 are located at a height below the front edge of the seating portion 130a with an appropriate gap in a state where the rotating seat 130 is oriented in the lateral direction of the body. As shown in FIG.
Easy to rotate without interfering with. Moreover, since the knee does not interfere with the upright wall 40, the upright wall 40 can be disposed sufficiently close to the rotating seat 130, and the vehicle width can be reduced accordingly.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a plan view thereof. In this embodiment, the handrail 1 is located along the front standing wall 38 and the left and right standing walls 40, 40.
40 is attached, and this handrail 140 is again shaded 142
Is attached. Further, transparent windshields 144, 146 are attached to the front standing wall 38 and the handle lever 58. In addition, the handrail 140 is the left and right standing walls 40, 40.
The hand which pushes up the hand push ring D of the wheelchair A does not interfere with the handrail 140.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 15 is its plane. In this embodiment, the handle shaft 50 and the cover 60 can be laid down near their roots. That is, the fifteenth
The handle is moved to the 14th position by operating the illustrated lock lever 148.
It is possible to tilt it to the virtual line position in the figure.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, only the inner edges of the left and right standing walls 40A, 40A are the height near the axle of the main wheel C of the wheelchair A, and the outer upper edges are It stands upright. According to this embodiment, even if the right and left upright walls 40A are raised, the upright wall 40A is not touched by the handwheel D of the wheelchair A when it is operated. This embodiment can be applied to the case where the rotary seat is fixed to the floor surface 36, and in this case, the effect that the foot does not contact the standing wall 40A when the seat is seated and the seat is rotated.

Although each of the above-described embodiments is a front one-wheel three-wheel vehicle, the present invention also includes a four-wheel vehicle. FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the layout of the sixth embodiment which is a four-wheeled vehicle, and includes left and right steering front wheels 46A,
The engine 92A is arranged between 46A. Rotation of the handle shaft 50 is performed by rotating the pair of left and right tie rods 150, 15
It is transmitted to the knuckle brackets 152, 152 via 0.

In the drawings of the second to sixth embodiments, the same parts as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

According to the embodiments in which the rear wheel 64 can be moved up and down by the air cylinder 72, the trailing edge of the floor surface 36 approaches the road surface when getting on and off, so that getting on and off becomes easier. However, the present invention includes not only those in which the rear wheels do not move up and down in this manner, but also those in which a flip-up type boarding plate mounted by a hinge is provided at the rear end of the floor.

Further, it is desirable to provide a car stop 86 at the rear portion of the floor surface 38, or to provide an openable and closable door that closes the rear portion during traveling, but the present invention includes those that do not have these.

In each of the above embodiments, since the engine 92 is used as the prime mover, the traveling distance can be increased, but an electric motor may be used as the prime mover.

Although it is desirable that the body 36 is integrally formed, it is also possible to assemble the members by appropriately dividing the members.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, in the first invention, the front and left and right sides of the floor surface are substantially continuously surrounded by the front standing wall and the left and right standing walls to form a body, and the prime mover is housed in the front standing wall. Therefore, the floor surface can be made flat and low, and it is possible to easily get on and off from the rear portion of the floor surface that opens rearward, which is particularly convenient for getting on and off a wheelchair or an aged person.

Further, since the steering wheel shaft rises above the front standing wall, the center of gravity of the vehicle is low and stability is improved, and the driver has good visibility around the body and facilitates driving. In particular, it is very open, so you can enjoy driving and feel refreshed.

According to the second invention, the differential device and the pair of left and right drive shafts are further provided in the front rising wall, and the rear wheel transmission that passes in the front-rear direction is accommodated in the left and right standing walls. In addition to the effect similar to the first aspect of the invention, a large uphill force can be obtained by using the rear wheel having a large ground load as the driving wheel.

Further, in the third aspect of the present invention, since the rotating seat is attached to the floor surface, an elderly person or the like who gets on from the rear, as in the case where the fixed seat is provided, does not pass through the side of the fixed seat and come out in front of the fixed seat. It is sufficient that the seat is seated rearward on the rearward-facing rotating seat and then the rotating seat is rotated 180 ° to face forward, and the effect of the first invention can be obtained, and the elderly person with weakened legs and waist without using a wheelchair can be obtained. The effect of becoming a suitable vehicle can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a use state of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the vehicle, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views and side views showing a vehicle structure. FIG. 6 is a pneumatic system diagram, FIG. 7 is a power system diagram, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a wheelchair loading / unloading operation, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a riding state thereof. Further, FIG. 10 is a side view of the second embodiment, FIG. 11 is a rear view showing the same getting on / off operation thereof, FIG. 12 is a side view of the third embodiment, FIG. 13 is its plan view, and FIG. FIG. 15 is a side view of the fourth embodiment, FIG. 15 is its plan view, FIG. 16 is a rear view of the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 17 is a plan layout view of the sixth embodiment. 34 ... Body, 36 ... Floor surface, 38 ... Front standing wall, 40 ... Left / right standing wall, 46, 46A ... Steering front wheel, 50 ... Steering wheel shaft, 64 ... Rear wheel, 92 ... Gasoline engine as a prime mover, 106 ... Difference Drive device, 108 ... Drive shaft, 110 ... Chain as a rear wheel transmission device, A ... Wheelchair, C ... Main wheel.

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A body having a front standing wall and left and right standing walls formed in a substantially box shape having a substantially flat plate-like floor surface that substantially continuously surrounds the front and left and right sides thereof and has a cross-section that opens downward. A steering wheel shaft that rises upward from the standing wall, a steering front wheel and a driving prime mover housed in the front standing wall, and a pair of left and right rear wheels housed in the left and right standing walls. A low-floor small-sized vehicle characterized by being able to get on and off from a rear part of the open floor surface. 2. A low-floor small vehicle according to claim 1, wherein there is one steering front wheel. 3. A low-floor small vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that it has two steering front wheels. 4. The low-floor small vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body is integrally molded of synthetic resin. 5. A low-floor small vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the body is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. 6. The inner width of the left and right standing walls is determined so that the wheelchair for persons with disabilities can get on and off from the rear of the body, and the upper edge of at least the inside of the left and right standing walls is the main wheel of the wheelchair placed on the floor. The low-floor small vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that it is located in the vicinity of the axle of the vehicle. 7. A low-floor small vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the left and right rear wheel axles are independent of each other, and the floor surface is located below the rear wheel axles. . 8. A low-floor small vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the prime mover is a gasoline engine. 9. The low-floor small vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the prime mover is an electric motor. 10. A body having a front standing wall and left and right standing walls which are formed in a substantially box-like shape having a substantially flat plate-like floor surface which substantially continuously surrounds the front and left and right sides thereof and whose cross section opens downward. In the front standing wall, a handle shaft that rises upward from the standing wall, a steering front wheel and a driving motor housed in the front standing wall, a pair of left and right rear wheels housed in the left and right standing walls. A pair of left and right drive shafts that are installed laterally and driven by the prime mover via a differential device, and a rear wheel transmission device that passes through the left and right upright walls in the front-rear direction and transmits the rotation of each drive shaft to each rear wheel. A low-floor small-sized vehicle, characterized in that it is capable of getting on and off from a rear portion of the floor surface that is opened rearward. 11. The low floor small vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the rear wheel transmission is a chain transmission. 12. The low-floor small vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the number of front steering wheels is one. 13. The inside width of the left and right standing walls is determined so that the wheelchair for people with disabilities can get on and off the vehicle from the rear of the body, and the center of the main wheel of the wheelchair is located above and above the center of the left and right rear wheels. 13. The low-floor small vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the length in the front-rear direction is determined. 14. The wheelchair mounting position is determined such that the main wheels and auxiliary wheels of the wheelchair are located between two straight lines that pass through the grounding points of the front steering wheel and the grounding points of the left and right rear wheels. The low-floor small vehicle according to claim 13, which is characterized by being provided. 15. The inner width of the left and right standing walls is determined so that the wheelchair for persons with disabilities can get on and off from the rear of the body, and the upper edge of at least the inside of the left and right standing walls is the main wheel of the wheelchair placed on the floor. The low-floor small vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that it is located near the axle of the vehicle. 16. A body having a front standing wall and left and right standing walls formed in a substantially box shape having a substantially flat plate-like floor surface that substantially continuously surrounds the front and left and right sides thereof and has a cross-section that opens downward. A handle shaft that rises upward from the upright wall, a steering front wheel and a driving prime mover housed in the front upright wall, a pair of left and right rear wheels housed in the left and right upright walls, and attached to the floor surface. A low-floor small-sized vehicle including a rotating seat, and being able to get on and off from a rear portion of the floor surface opened rearward. 17. An upper edge of at least the inside of the left and right upright walls is set to a height which is located below the upper edge of the seat portion with an appropriate gap in a state where the rotating seat faces the body width direction. Claim 1 characterized in that
A low-floor small vehicle according to item 6.